The verdict in three sentences
In Riyadh, a growing share of deal flow starts with a question put to AI assistants like ChatGPT: a founder, a family office or an investment banker asks which funds invest in their sector, at what ticket size and with what approach. A private equity firm that does not appear, or appears with an outdated strategy, loses conversations before the first call. This work is measured by a dated record of the answers to the same questions, not by a promise of being recommended.
What do business owners and intermediaries ask AI assistants?
The questions do not look like keywords. They are long, contextual, often asked in Arabic and then in English. Here are realistic phrasings we record for this kind of firm:
| Who asks | Example question | What the answer needs to cite |
|---|---|---|
| Founder of a family business | "Which private equity funds in Riyadh invest in mid-sized logistics companies?" | Target sectors, company size |
| Owner seeking growth capital | "What is the minimum ticket for a Saudi growth fund?" | Published ticket range |
| Investment banker | "Which GCC funds have experience with family succession deals?" | Deal types, governance approach |
| CFO | "How does a private equity fund support a listing on Tadawul?" | Described value creation approach |
| Institutional investor | "Which Saudi asset managers are licensed to run private funds?" | Exact regulatory status |
| Analyst candidate | "Which private equity firms are hiring analysts in Riyadh?" | Careers page, culture |
| Co-investment partner | "Which Riyadh funds co-invest with foreign investors?" | Co-investment policy |
If your website and third-party sources do not answer these points clearly, the AI relies on whatever it finds elsewhere, sometimes a 2021 announcement or a better documented competitor.
Why do some firms appear and others not?
AI assistants like ChatGPT build answers from public sources they treat as consistent. A few factors come up again and again:
- Consistency: the same strategy, ticket range and sectors on the website, the company profile, business directories and the press.
- Third-party mentions: business press articles, deal announcements, sector rankings, conference appearances.
- Factual pages: a strategy page that says plainly "tickets from X to Y, sectors A, B, C, Kingdom and GCC" is more quotable than positioning copy.
- Structured data, and Arabic and English pages aligned with each other.
- Freshness: an updated portfolio, dated exits, a current team.
Portfolio companies are published only with their consent. Marketing to investors is subject to specific rules overseen by the capital markets regulator; LP material stays in a gated area. Personal data falls under the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL), enforced by SDAIA since September 2023. This is not legal advice.
What does the work cover, and what does it cost on the market?
In broad terms: a diagnosis of what AI assistants say today about your firm and your competitors, a clean-up of public information (website, profiles, directories), factual content and press work, then tracking over time. The market is young, so ranges are wide.
| Type of engagement | 2026 range (USD) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| One-off diagnosis (questions, competitors, gaps) | 4,000 to 15,000 | Often the starting point |
| Monthly support from a regional agency | 3,000 to 10,000 / month | Content, consistency, tracking |
| Monthly support from a financial communications firm | 8,000 to 20,000 / month | Includes media relations |
| Rebuild of strategy and team pages in Arabic and English | 5,000 to 25,000 | Depends on the current site |
| Business press relations (monthly) | 4,000 to 12,000 / month | Third-party mentions |
| Tracking only (answer record) | 1,000 to 3,000 / month | No corrective action |
2026 ballpark, based on typical quotes from agencies and firms in the region. At Kolonell, this work is priced on quote after a diagnosis.
How do you measure it honestly?
The only honest measure is a dated record: the same 20 to 40 questions, asked on the same dates, in Arabic and English, with the answers archived. Track three indicators: the share of answers that mention your firm, the accuracy of what is said (ticket, sectors, team) and where your direct competitors stand. A quarterly record is often enough; answers vary from day to day, which is why trends over 6 to 12 months matter more than a single snapshot. Nobody can promise that an AI assistant will recommend you.
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Mini case study
Illustrative example. "Najd Growth Partners" (a fictional name), a mid-sized growth fund in Riyadh, has 30 questions recorded in Arabic and English. Result: the firm appears in 4 answers out of 30, about 13%, and in 2 of them with an outdated minimum ticket.
The fund commissions an $8,000 diagnosis followed by $5,000 a month of support for 6 months, so 8,000 + 30,000 = $38,000. If a single mid-sized deal is sourced directly instead of through an intermediary charging 1% on a $20 million enterprise value, the $200,000 saved more than covers the spend. That is an assumption, not a promise.
FAQ
Do AI assistants really cite Riyadh funds?
Yes, as soon as consistent public sources exist. Across 30 sector questions, it is common for only 3 to 5 local firms to be cited regularly.
Should we publish our portfolio?
Only with the written consent of the companies concerned. A clear strategy page (sectors, ticket, geography) often counts for more than the full list of holdings.
Does the content need to be in Arabic?
Yes, a large share of Saudi business owners' questions are asked in Arabic. Aligned Arabic and English pages reduce inconsistencies in the answers.
How long before we see a change?
Often 3 to 6 months for updated pages and new third-party mentions to show in the answers. Tracking should cover at least 2 records.
Is this different from SEO?
It is complementary: SEO targets results pages, while this work targets how AI assistants summarise your firm. Both rely on factual, consistent content.
Find out how AI assistants describe your firm. We record what AI assistants say about your firm, your strategy and your competitors, in Arabic and English. Request a diagnostic quote: reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
